approved: greyfalc0n
An alert for Victorian birdos and those visiting the Western Treatment
Plant.
Earlier this month (November 2005) Peter Fuller detected and photographed
at the Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) an adult Intermediate Egret (one
of 4 birds) which was in FULL BREEDING plumage (green face, red beak and
legs, long plumes). This is a very rare observation in southern Victoria
and I have never seen the species in breeding plumage in the south of the
state.
Intermediate Egrets are 'Critically Endangered' in Victoria and also on
the list of threatened species under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act.
Any sightings of the species in the state is significant and all
observations need to be carefully recorded and added to the Atlas of
Victorian Wildlife or Birds Australia atlas.
Egrets used to breed in the thousands at Murray River colonies in the
1930s and 1940s but river regulation, loss of foraging habitat and early
on the trade in plumes for the hat trade lead to a crash in egret
populations in south eastern Australia. Relatively minor (100s of birds)
breeding events by egrets occurred in 1974 and again in 1993 on Murray
River wetlands but Great, Intermediate and little Egrets now only have
small breeding populations in southern Australia.
The significance of Peter's Intermediate Egret in breeding plumage is all
the more important because there are NO records of the species ever
breeding in southern Victoria. the only known nesting sites for the
species in the last 30 - 40 years have all been in Murray River wetlands
(Gunbower and Barmah forests), some 300km north of Werribee.
This leads to the possibility of the observed birds currently nesting
somewhere in the Werribee or possibly in the Geelong or Bellarine
Peninsula districts.
Peter Fuller is currently making an effort to track down his birds again
and this is a request for anyone in these areas plus those visiting the
WTP to
- carefully check all white egrets they come across for this species and
its state/colour of breeding plumage
- note directions of flight (which may indicate roost or nest sites) of
any egrets (Little Egrets also occur at Werribee)
- potential colonially breeding (egrets, cormorants, Darter, spoonbill
ibis) sites in these areas (especially those with trees)
- check for total numbers of egrets (all species) in your area
and pass this information onto me please.
It's possible the species is breeding in southern Victoria for the first
recorded time so please keep tabs on your white egrets (Less the Cattle
Egret, they are all threatened in Victoria).
Look forward to hearing of people's findings and any recent experience's
they have had of Intermediate Egrets in Victoria.
cheers, Martin
Martin O'Brien
Threatened Species & Communities Section
Department of Sustainability and Environment
2/8 Nicholson St. (PO Box 500), East Melbourne 3002
Tel: 9637 9869
(prefixes: Interstate 03 International 613)
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